Machine



May 8, 1923.

L. FOURNIER ET AL COMPUTING MACHINE Q wwN WNN Patented May 8, 1923.

UNITED s'raras LOUIS FOURNIER AND GERARD MANG, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

COMPUTING MACHINE.

Application filed January 25, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LOUIS FoURNmR and GERARD MANG, citizens of theRepublic of France, both residing at Paris, France, have invented newand useful Improvements in Computing Machines, of which the following isa specification. The present invention relates to improvements in thetens-carrying mechanism of computing machines of the type in which amovable tooth is caused to project from the stepped drum at the desiredmoment with a view to actuating the number-wheel of the immediatelyhigher numerical order. A mechanism of this type is described inapplica-nts French Patent 522856 of August 25, 1920 and in applicants U.S. application Serial No. 321045, filed September 2, 1919.

I The improvements forming the subject of the present invention areintended, in a general' manner, to give the machine greater speed inoperation, to reduce the resistance to movement of the parts and tosecurely lock said movable tooth so as to prevent it from accidentaldisplacement.

In the accompanying drawings, a "form of execution of these improvementshas been shown by way of example.

Figure 1 is a transverse section of the machine showing the arrangementemployed for carrying tens. that is to say, for placing the movabletooth of the stepped drums in the desired position for causing the discof the immediately higher numerical order to advance by one tenth of arevolution.

Figure 2 is a partial horizontal section showing details of thismechanism.

In a calculating machine, it is indispensable that the operation 01 thedifferent parts shall be extremely rapid, in view of the fact that theseparts actuate each other and that this succession of actuating movementswould be liable, if not provided with means permitting of effecting thisvery rapidly, of slowing down the action of the machine to such anextent that the services rendered thereby would be diminished.

This is the case especially as; regards what may be called the accessoryactions of a calculating machine, which form a branch of the generaloperation of the machine. This is the case with the mechanism known asthe tens-carrying device the purpose of which is to arrange certainparts in the required. position when a disc has recorded Serial No.531,805.

nine units of any order, so that, at the moment when it is going torecord a tenth and consequently indicate zero, the disc of immediatelyhigher order is advanced by one unit.

In the device described in French Patent 522856, this carrying of tensis effected by a movable tooth 72 which comes into engagement with themovable calculating wheel 76 mounted upon the axis of the next followingwheel, this movable tooth not appearing and, consequently, not beingcapable of coming into action, except at the exact moment when the discof a lower order accomplishes the tenth and last portion of itsrotation. The manner in which the appearance ot th tooth 72 was broughtabout in the original device did not allow either ofobtainingsuiliciently rapid movements as not to slow down the generaloperation considerably, or of absolute fixity of the movable tooth whenin its operative position.

The improvements made in this device consist, on the one hand, of amechanism actuated more directly by the disc and designed to exert apull on the flange 68 of the part 68 so as to move the rod 68longitudinally to push the movable tooth 72 outwards, this mechanismbeing provided with an accelerator which gives the movement considerablerapidity; they consist, on the other hand, of a lifting member whichacts upon the movable tooth to rock it, so that it only projects fromthe drum 70 at a fixed point, and which holds it in a rigid manner inthis new position.

the shatt 62 of the disc 62 is keyed a finger 63, the edges of which arechamfered and it is arranged radially so as to not between the passageof the disc from 9 to 0. Below this finger there is arranged, in asuitable frame 121 fixed to the base 5 of the machine. a rod 122 whichcan move vertically therein and terminates at its up per end in a head123 of conical or other suitable shape: this rod carries at its lowerend a finger 124 fixed thereon in any suitable manner.

The flange 68 of the member 68 is held by its periphery between thelateral faces of a notch 125 formed in the extremity of the arm 126 of alever 127 pivoted at 128 on a check integral with the frame 121. Thelever 127 terminates at its free end in a finger 182. having twoabutments 133 and 134;

connected by a cam-surface 135 having a steep incline, these twoabutments being intended to hold the lever 127 in its two extremepositions by means of a roller 131 carried by an arm-130 pivoted to arigid arm 130 fixed to the frame 121; a return-spring 129 assuresconstant contact of the roller 13]. on the lever 127.

The part 68 carries a sleeve 136 terminating in a connecting member 137and which can slide longitudinally on the shaft (39 ot the drum 70. Thisplate carries, fixed thereon, a rod 68* arranged parallel to the shaft69 and having a block 68" vtor actuating the movable toot-h 72. Theactive portion of this latter is preferably ot slight length as can beseen in Fig. 1. and can only project on the. cylinder 70 at the exactspot at which it is to act, The movable tooth 72 is prolonged in arecess in the drum 70 to which it is pivoted at 72 near its rear end andit has two shoulders 72 and 7 both of which normally rest upon theactuating block 68- either upon its upper face or upon its lower faceaccording to the position occupied by the movable tooth 72. It is to beobserved that this arrangement (litters entirely from that described inFrench Patent 522856, which comprised a ljiell-crank lever, theoscillation of which controlled the radial movement of the movable toothby the action of pins; the application of the shoulders acting after themanner ot steep cams upon the arms of multiplying levers so as to enableabsolute instantaneity of movement to be obtained.

This mechanism operates in the following manner:

\Vhen the disc 62 of any order, having been brought into such positionthat the 9 appears at the opening provided for this purpose in the coverof the machine, is again moved through an angle corresponding to oneunit, that is to say, through a tenth of a revolution, the finger 63.which is fixed to its shaft 62, engages. by means of its bevelled edge.the conical head 123 of the rod 122 and depresses this latter, can beseen from Fig. 1. The finger 124 of this rod is depressed in consequenceand as it bears constantly upon a point formed on the lever 127. thislatter oscillates about its axis 128 and pushes the roller 13,]. away,causing it to rise on the surface oi the cam 135. the spring 1 9givi-mgway so as to permit 01" this movement. As the sur'ta ce 135 isvery steepinclined, that is to say. that its extremity located near theabutment 133 is further re mote from the axis of oscillation 128 thanthe extremity adjacent the abutment 13 1. the roller 131 runs over thissurface very rapidly under the action of the spring 129, andconsequently depresses the lever 12?, causing. it" to oscillate at ahighspeedv about its pivot 128. The member 68 is therefore drawn sharply tothe right and, owing to the accelerator constituted by the cam 13:) andthe spring 129, this takes place so suddenly that its movement iseffected immediately the rod122 has begun to be depressed by the finger63'.

\Vhen the rod (58" thus drawn by the action of the arm 12G slides in thecylinder 70, the shoulder 72 ot the tooth '72 is raised by the abutment(38 ot the block (58" and rises upon the upper face of this latter,while its shoulder 7 falls along the abutment 68 on its lower ta'e Theresult is that the tooth 72 rocks about its axis 72' and is caused toproject on the outside of the cylinder 70. It should be noticed that theshoulder 72 is raised by the abutment 68 as soon as the block 68 beginsto move towards the right so that the tooth 72 is in its exteriorposition starting from this moment, that is to say, in the requiredposition to engage the corresponding calculating wheel 76 whichtransmits the required angular displacement of one tenth of a revolutionto the disc 62 of the immediately higher order. The. continuation of themovement of the. block (58 only has therefore the etlect ot tixing thetooth T2 in its working position owing to the locking of the shoulder 72on the upper face of the block. This position is shown in Fig. 1. Thereturn oithe parts to their normal position is cfl'ected by the deviceprovided tor this purpose in French Patent No. 522856. which consists ofan abutment 6S, acting on a cam 68 it will be seen that the arrangementjust described enables the movable. tooth T2 to be put into actioninstantaneously, thanksto the acceleration obtained successively. on theone hand, by the steep incline of the can'i-surfacc and by the action ofthe spring 129 and on the other hand, by the relative positions of theshoulders 72 and '72 and ot the abutments (38 and 68 \Ve claim:

1. In a tens-carrying mechanism for computing machines, the combinationoi" asteppcd drum. a movable tooth on said drum. means for causing saidtooth to project from the drum on the passage of tens 5 and auxiliarymeans tor accelerating the motion of the movable tooth.

2. in a tenscarryiug mecl'ia nism for computing macl'iines. thecombination of a stepped drum. a movable tooth on said drum. means forcausing said tooth to project from the drum on the passage of ten and aspring adapted to accelerate the motion of the movable tooth.

In a tens-carrying mechanism for computing machines. the combination ofa stepped drum, a movable tooth on said drum, means :For causing saidtooth to project' from the drum on the passage of tens, auxiliary meansfor accelerafiing'the motion of said tooth into its projecting positionand means for locking said tooth in its projecting or retractedposition.

4. In a tens-carrying mechanism for computing machines, the combinationof a stepped drum, a movable tooth pivoted to said drum, and meansactuated on the passage of tens to rock said tooth to cause it toproject beyond the periphery of said drum.

5. In a tens-carrying mechanism for computing machines, the combinationof a stepped drum, a movable tooth pivoted to said drum, means actuatedon the passage of tens to rock said tooth to cause it to project beyondthe periphery of said drum and means tor locking said tooth in position.

6. In a tens-carrying mechanism for computing machines, the combinationof a stepped drum, a movable tooth pivoted. to said drum, means actuatedon the passage of tens to cause said tooth to project beyond theperiphery of said drum and a spring adapt cd to accelerate the motionoi": said tooth.

7. In a tens-carrying mechanism for computing machines, the combinationoi? stepped drum, a movable tooth pivoted to said drum, means tending torock said tooth to cause it to project beyond the periphery of saiddrum, means for normally locking said rocking means in the inoperativeposition and means actuated on the passage oi tens for releasing saidrocking means.

8. In a tens-carrying mechanism for computing machines, the combinationof a stepped drum, a movable tooth pivoted to said drum, means tendingto rock said tooth. to cause it to project beyond the periphery of saiddrum, means for normally locking said rocking means in the inoperativeposition and a cam adapted, on the passage of tens, to release saidrocking means.

9. In a tens-carrying mechanism for computing machines, the combinationof a stepped drum, a movable tooth pivoted to said drum, means tendingto rock said tooth to cause it to project beyond the periphery of saiddrum, means for normally locking said rocking means in the inoperativeposition, a rod engaging said locking: means and a cam adapted, onpassage of tens, to actuate said rod to release said rocking means.

10. In a tens-carrying mechanism for computing machines the combinationof a stepped drum, a movable tooth pivoted to said drum. means actuatedon passage 0:? tens to rock said tooth to cause it to project beyond theperiphery or? said d run). and canrsurfaces on said rocking means forlock: ing said tooth in position.

11. In a tens-carrying mechanism forconu puting machines, thecombination of. a stepped drum, a movable tooth pivoted to said drum, anactuating block slidably mounted in said drum, said block having camsurfaces adapted to engage said tooth and means actuated on the passageof tens to slide said block to rock said tooth.

152. In a tenscarrying mechanism for computing machines, the combinationof a stepped drum, a movable tooth pivoted to said drum, a block forrocking said tooth to cause it to project from said drum slidablymounted in the latter, cam-surfaces on said block adapted to rock saidtooth on passage of tens and to lock it in position and spring actuatedmeans released on passage of tens to slide said actuatino lock.

In a tons-car mechanism vtor computing machines, the combination of astepped drum, a movable tooth pivoted to said drum, a block for rockingsaid tooth to cause it to project into operative position slidablymounted in said drum, a spring tensioned rocking-lever engaging saidblock and means actuated on passage of tens to release said rockinglever to slide said block. 14. In a tens-carrying mechanism for com putrig machines, the combination of a stepped drum, a movable tooth pivotedto said drum, a block for rocking said tooth to cause it to project intooperative position slidably mounted in said drum, a rocking leverengaging said block at one end and terminating at the other end in asteep cam surface having an abutment at each end, a spring tcnsionedlever engaging one of said abutn'ients to hold said rocking lever in theposition in which said movable tooth is in operative position and meansoperated on passage of tens to release said spring tensioned lever toallow it to pass along said cam-surface to the other abutment therebyrock g said rocking lever.

15. In atens-carrying mechanism "for computing machines, the combinationor a stepped drum, a movable tooth pivoted to said drum, a block forrocking said tooth to cause it to project into operative positionslidably mounted in said drum, a rocking lever engaging said block atone end. and tcrminati. g at the other end in a steep cam surface havingan abutment at each end. a spring-tensioned lever engaging one of saidabntments to hold said rocking lever in the position in which saidmovable tooth is inoperative, and a rod engaging said rocking lever andadapted on passage of tens to move said rocking lever to release saidspring tensioned lever to allow the latter to act on said cam-surface torock said rocking lever for the purpose set forth.

In witness hereof, we have hereunto set our hands this day of January1922,

L UIS FOURNIER. GAJBARD MANG.

